(ARA) – There used to be a beauty rule that in order to benefit from high-quality, high-tech skincare products women had to shop at a high-priced department or specialty store. With the current economic shift and consumers becoming increasingly more Internet savvy, that rule has changed with many shoppers discovering that they can find the same skincare product innovation for a greater value right at their local drugstore.

Drugstore skincare brands are delivering innovation and value in two ways: tapping into natural resources and utilizing new advancements in skincare science. But for many, new advancements in skincare formulations can be confusing. What is stem cell technology and is it safe? How can peptides smooth lines?

Use this skincare shopping guide while at the drugstore to clarify the labels and find the right product for your skin and your budget.

Natural solutions

Plants rich in antioxidants and vitamins have healing and protective elements that women have trusted for centuries. Here are some of the newest plant-based technologies to consider:

Plant stem cells
Scientists have found that apple stem cell extract helps to protect human skin cells from natural depletion and external stressors such as UV radiation. It also allows new and healthy skin cells to regenerate, meaning that an apple a day may indeed keep the dermatologist away. New Lumene Excellent Future Deep Repairing Serum and Deep Repairing Cream include this innovative technology, available for the first time at the drugstore. While similar products are sold at department stores for hundreds of dollars a jar, the Lumene Excellent Future products are available at a fraction of the price and can be found at CVS/pharmacy.

White peat extract
This powerhouse ingredient contains twice-concentrated phyto power from the last Ice Age. The efficacy of peat is in its incredible ability to activate skin’s natural regeneration process and make skin more supple.

Arctic cloudberry
Grown wild and hand-picked in the peat lands and forests of the Arctic, one small cloudberry contains twice the vitamin C of an orange 10 times its size. Cloudberry seeds yield an oil that contains essential fatty acids, antioxidants and carotenoids that protect skin from radical damage and enhance regeneration.

Sea buckthorn oil
The oil derived from the Sea Buckthorn plant contains high levels of vitamin C as well as carotenoids, vitamin E and amino acids that help metabolize skin cells, promoting hydration and smoothness.

Antioxidants and botanicals
Ingredients that prevent free radicals from damaging healthy skin include antioxidants coenzyme Q10, vitamins E and C and botanicals such as soy, green tea, acai and pomegranate.

Scientific advancements
Skincare technology buzzwords can confound shoppers. Formulas featuring these ingredients are a sure bet to fight the signs of aging:

Ceramides
These lipids, along with cholesterol and fatty acids, form a barrier on the topmost layer of skin that keeps in moisture and blocks harmful chemicals. But they are depleted as skin ages.

Hyaluronic acid
This acid occurs naturally in the body and works to fill the soft tissue and deliver intense hydration, plumping and firming aging skin.

Polypeptides
Polypeptides, often referred to simply as “peptides,” can stimulate the communication between cells to promote stronger, healthier and more youthful-looking skin.

GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)
Another ingredient found in the human body, GABA helps to temporarily relax the muscles responsible for wrinkling skin.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: antioxidants, arctic cloudberry, Ceramides, GABA, Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Hyaluronic acid, plant stem cells, Polypeptides, sea buckthorn oil, skincare science, white peat extract

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Tags: acai, acai berry, Amino skin care products, Dr. Oz, Dr. Oz Skin Care Products

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(ARA) – Ahhh, summer — July Fourth fireworks, family barbecues, ice cold watermelon, weekends at the beach … and bug bites. Or worse — bee, hornet and wasp stings.

“Dealing with biting and stinging insects is one of summer’s bummers,” says Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg, editor of Wilderness Medicine magazine and the author of eight books on outdoor safety. “At best, a bite is annoying and a sting painful. At worst, they can be life-threatening if the person that was bitten or stung has an allergic reaction.”

Repellents can help ward off insects, but even the most powerful are not foolproof if you miss a patch of skin. A summer mosquito bite or bee sting is almost inevitable and can be annoying to adult sufferers and traumatizing to the youngest members of the family.

Van Tilburg offers some tips to help ensure insect bites and stings don’t take a bite out of your summer fun:

* Wash the bite or sting with soap and water. Keep an eye out for infection. If the bite or sting becomes increasingly red or painful, swells or oozes pus, or if the red spot is bigger than a nickel, have a doctor look at it.

* Apply an anti-itch treatment designed specifically for insect bites and stings. Oral antihistamines may help, but also carry the risk of making one drowsy, so stick with a topical remedy. Avoid those that rely on benzocaine or lidocaine, both of which simply mask the itch and need to be constantly reapplied since the relief is short lived. Instead, opt for a benzocaine-free product like AfterBite.

The adult version counteracts the bite with ammonia and the children’s version (AfterBite Kids) gently eliminates the pain and swelling with a baking soda-based cream. Both formulations work to soothe the bite — providing fast, long-term relief — and help moisturize the skin. AfterBite contains mineral oil and the kids’ version comes with Vitamin E, aloe vera and tea tree oil — all ingredients that are effective skin softeners. Tea tree oil also kills bacteria, which is an important benefit if a child’s insect bite or sting has become infected through over scratching. If you don’t have a remedy on hand, apply ice or cold to relieve the pain and swelling.

* In case of a sting, remove the stinger and venom sac as quickly as possible. The venom sac will continue to pump venom into the skin, even if you’ve already removed the rest of the insect. If you don’t have extra strength AfterBite Outdoor (which contains baking soda, tea tree oil and ammonia) available, make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the affected area for bee stings. For wasps, try vinegar, lemon juice or another acidic substance that may help neutralize the pain-causing toxin.

* Bee, hornet or wasp stings (and some ant bites) can lead to anaphylactic shock, a serious life-threatening allergic reaction. Symptoms include hives, wheezing, dizziness, tightness in the chest, a rapid heart beat and a drop in blood pressure. Anaphylactic shock requires immediate treatment with epinephrine and antihistamines. If someone in your family has a known bee allergy, be sure to keep an epinephrine auto-injector — prescribed by your doctor — on hand. Seek medical assistance as soon as possible.

* Bugs aren’t the only stinging creatures to be cautious about during summer months. If your family romps at the beach, beware of jellyfish stings. Some types of jellyfish deliver stings that are merely painful, while a handful can actually give a life-threatening sting. Use AfterBite or vinegar to neutralize jellyfish venom.

“Bites and stings are a reality of summer, but with a little preparedness and proper treatment, they don’t have to be a big bummer,” Van Tilburg says.

To learn more about treating summer insect bites and stings, visit www.tendercorp.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: AfterBite, bee sting remedy, bee sting therapy, bee sting treatment, bee stings, bug bites, wasp stings

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When you think of skin care recipe, scrub recipe is probably what comes to mind. Recipes for scrubs prepared at home cost almost nothing and give you the same effect as those pricey, store bought scrubs.

Each skin care recipe for scrub has 3 ingredients:

Brown Sugar photo credit: Paul Laird

1- Exfoliant. An agent that is gentle enough not to damage the skin but coarse enough to slough off dead skin cells and accumulated damage of the skin. This agent is usually brown sugar, although regular white sugar, Epsom salt, or sea salt can be used. Brown sugar is most popular; it is full of molasses which makes it brown and moist. Its grains are smaller than of regular, white sugar which makes it a perfect exfoliant.

2- Purifier. An ingredient that comes in after the skin has been exfoliated. It additionally cleanses the skin and prevents possible irritation or clears up the existing ones. This agent is most commonly honey, an anti-inflammatory agent.

3- Moisturizer. Once exfoliated and cleansed, the skin needs to be moisturized. You will need something that provides enough moisture but doesn’t leave a greasy residue. For this purpose oils such as olive and coconut oil work the best as well as aloe vera gel.

With this in mind, here’s how you can prepare the best skin care recipe, scrub that exfoliates the old, damaged skin to reveal the new, rejuvenated, softer skin… Of course, I am talking about:

Brown sugar body scrub recipe – Scrub, sweet scrub

There is a reason I am being romantic about this recipe. This scrub is everything you’ll really need to give your skin the best exfoliation and not break your budget.

This is what you need:

2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons ground oats
2 tablespoons aloe vera gel
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon almond oil (in case you don’t have almond oil, use olive oil, it is a great substitute).

Before you start preparing this scrub, grind the oatmeal using a coffee grinder or food processor. It has to be of sandy consistency, flaky and light otherwise it will scratch the skin.

Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl. Mix until it resembles a paste

It should be applied on moist skin, the best time is after you took a shower. It will help the skin cells slough off faster.

Use circular motion and massage gently using your fingertips.

Rinse off with warm water.

Tags: brown sugar, brown sugar facial scrub, brown sugar skin care, facial scrubs, recipe facial scrub

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(ARA) – Summertime heralds splashing in backyard pools, beach vacations and outdoor activities of all types. We like to think of it as a happy-go-lucky time when the whole family can enjoy reveling in the sunshine. Those happy rays, though, carry invisible dangers in the form of ultraviolet rays. Protection from dangerous UV light is so important that both the National Weather Service and Environmental Protection Agency provide a daily UV index.

To help ensure that everyone enjoys summer safely, Anthony James Petty, MLT, RMA, CMA and medical program chair at Brown Mackie College – Miami, shares helpful information on protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful effects.

“Overexposure to the sun causes premature aging,” says Petty. “Ultraviolet light affects the outer skin layers, or epidermis, and is the primary agent responsible for sunburn. Long-term effects of the sun also include a higher risk of developing skin cancer.”

The 2009 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency SunWise Program report, Health Effects of Overexposure to the Sun, states, “The incidence of skin cancer in the United States has reached epidemic proportions. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, and one American dies every hour from this devastating disease.”

Petty describes the process of burning and its effects on the skin. “Everyone has melanocytes, or pigment-producing cells, in the skin. As exposure to UV light begins to burn the skin, melanocytes send a color-producing pigment called melanin to the surface for protection. This causes the tan color, but each time it happens, it dries the skin and robs the melanocytes of their ability to respond.”

Petty recommends using sunscreen with SPF 15 protection or above, nothing below. “SPF 15 filters 92 percent of UV rays. Without protection, a fair-skinned person would begin to burn in just 10 minutes. Applying SPF 15 sunscreen lets that same person stay in the sun fifteen times longer before burning, or 150 minutes,” he continues. Petty notes it is important to reapply sunscreen every two hours, more often if you’re swimming. Chlorine from pools and salt from the ocean break down sunscreen formulas and weaken their effectiveness. Another consideration is the specific time of day you spend in the sun. Rays are strongest between noon and 3 p.m.

Apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going out into the sun. “The skin needs time to absorb the lotion,” says Petty. “The lotion is absorbed, but the chemicals in the sunscreen are rejected and form the protective layer.” While it is recommended to re-apply lotion periodically, it is equally recommended not to overuse sunscreen. “Overuse of sunscreen can enable toxins to enter the bloodstream. This is dangerous and can lead to liver damage,” he continues.

How to treat sunburn
If you do end up with sunburn, Petty offers tips on how to treat it. “First make sure you cover up. Don’t burn on top of burn,” he says. “It can be dangerous. Second-degree burns cause painful blisters on the skin. Popping the blisters raises the chances of infection. If blistering appears, see a doctor.”

Advice for sunburn includes a cool shower, not hot, or an oatmeal bath. “A cool compress often helps,” says Petty. “Aloe is a natural emollient that is commonly used to keep skin moist.” Anyone suffering from sunburn should drink plenty of water. A headache that accompanies sunburn signals dehydration. “Nothing functions well without hydration. Drink water before you feel thirsty,” Petty says. “Colas and iced tea should be avoided, as caffeine will actually cause further dehydration. Sports drinks, however, will replenish electrolytes and hydrate faster.”

A little knowledge can go a long way to help ensure you stay safe in the summer sun. Protection from UV light now can lower the risks of documented health problems proven to result from overexposure to the sun’s harmful rays.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: skin cancer prevention, sunburn, treating a sunburn, UV light

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What you put on your skin really does matter

It is becoming more apparent that coconut oil is very beneficial for use in cooking, but did you know that the super versatile oil makes for the ideal substance to use for moisturizing and restoring your skin? Whether it’s recovering from a day in the sun at the beach or going through the cool, dry air of winter, many people are looking for solutions take care of their skin. To the casual consumer does it really matter what kind of lotion we use? The labels of most skin moisturizers and lotions reveal that one of the main ingredients found in these products is water. When these lotions and creams are applied to the body, their moisture is rapidly absorbed into the skin. As the water absorbs into the skin, it expands the tissues, similar to filling up a balloon with water, so that any wrinkles briefly fade away and also causing the skin to take on a smoother feel. However, as soon as the moisture in the lotion or cream evaporates or is whisked away by the blood stream, the skin nearly always returns to it’s dry, wrinkled condition. Our skin is made up of connective tissues that make it strong and elastic with strong connective fibers causing our skin to be youthful in appearance, supple and strong, much like the skin of most youths. Unfortunately, as we become older and these fibers are constantly exposed to free-radicals, they tend to break down, resulting in connective tissues that become more hardened as they slowly lose their strength and elastic qualities. When the skin is no longer able to hold itself together it begins to develop wrinkles, and often takes on a dry, leathery, and even “droopy” appearance.

Even though we may be very diligent with our skin care routine, we will never really be able to permanently conquer dry, wrinkled skin with commercial skin care products. In addition to containing water as a primary ingredient, most lotions have some type of heavily refined vegetable oil that lacks the natural protective antioxidants which makes them highly likely to cause free-radical development on the inside and outside of the body. This is just one reason why taking in processed vegetable oils can lead to a deficit in vitamin E and other antioxidants, which are used up in battling free radicals that cause permanent damage to connective tissue. As we consider this, we should be more discerning about the types of substances we use on our skin. Using products that contain a refined oil has the potential to cause skin to age more rapidly. Although moisturizers and skin creams can provide us with what seems to be temporary improvement, they are actually speeding up aging of the skin and even encouraging more serious damage due to the free radicals that are readily developed from the refined vegetable oil.

After free-radical reaction is initiated it often gathers momentum causing a domino effect which causes additional development of free radicals, which ends up damaging large numbers of molecules in the skin. The human body utilizes antioxidants to fight these damage causing free-radicals. The chain reaction of free radical development is hindered when they come into contact with antioxidants which which the body uses as a defense against these damage causing cells. The amount of antioxidants contained in our tissues is mostly affected by the nutrients in our daily diet, which leads us to……..

Coconut Oil as Nature’s perfect skin care remedy

Raw, virgin coconut oil is perhaps the best natural ingredient for skin care available as it softens the skin and safeguards it from damage, encourages healing, resulting in a more healthy appearance. Coconut oil provides protection against damaging free radicals and even offers the added benefit of keeping the skin from forming liver spots and other blemishes that are brought on by aging and over exposure to sunlight, which are signs of free-radical deterioration of the lipids in the skin. Dr. Ray Peat, a biochemist who has written about the antioxidant properties of coconut oil, has stated, “It is well established that dietary coconut oil reduces our need for vitamin E, but I think its antioxidant role is more general than that, and that it has both direct and indirect antioxidant activities.”

In addition to providing protection from free radical damage, coconut oil also assists with maintaining strong, supple connective tissue, preventing the skin from having a wrinkly and sagging appearance. In some cases it might also heal and even restore skin that has been previously damaged. As the oil is absorbed into the skin, it penetrates beyond the surface going into the deeper layers of the skin, strengthening the underlying tissues, resulting in limiting the damage caused by over exposure to the sun. Unlike many common moisturizing lotions and skin care products that usually have only temporary benefits, coconut oil will have lasting effects that can help return the back to a more healthy, smooth appearance. One reason why this happens is because the coconut oil aids in the removal of the outer layer of dead skin cells, which results in the skin feeling and appearing smoother with a healthy glow. Coconut oil will also help to decrease chronic skin inflammation within days and also serve as a soothing and healing treatment for skin ailment such as minor wounds, blisters, and rashes. It is an excellent ingredient to use in healing ointments and has even proven to be very beneficial as a hair conditioner. With so many versatile and positive qualities, extra virgin coconut oil deserves a place as a regular part of out diet.

For more information of the outstanding benefits of coconut oil, please visit:
http://www.cookwithcoconut.com

Frank Farmer is a psychologist and fitness/nutrition enthusiast who motivates others to improve their health.

Tags: coconut, coconut oil, skin care coconut

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When it comes to beauty skin care and the different skin care products that are out there today, it can be really confusing to decide on a single few. This is for a couple of different reasons, one of the major ones being that the prices vary so dramatically and so it can be hard to decide whether the professional skin care products are going to be worth the extra cash.

As long as the professional skin care products work and we know that our money is being well spent, we generally do not mind shelling out a bit extra dough because we know that we are going to be getting the results that we are looking for.

The problem here then is us coming to an understanding on which professional skin care products actually do work and which we should avoid.

Oil of Olay

Although not one of the extremely higher priced skin care lines, Oil of Olay products are definitely not cheap, and are considered as being professional skin care products. They have quite a line of products to choose from, everything from crow’s eye treatments to rejuvenating face cream and much more.

They even offer your basic cleansers and tons, and a long line of high quality moisturizers that you can choose from as well.

L’Oreal

L’Oreal is another big league name in the world of skin care products. Millions of people around the world rely on L’Oreal to offer them the skin care results that they are looking for, and you can definitely trust in their products. They are a bit more expensive as well, but for the most part every single product offers just the results that they claim to, so you know that your money will not be going to waste because you will be getting the treatment that you need.

These are just a couple of ideas for professional skin care products and there are many, many more for you to choose from. It is really important that you do a bit of trial and error, test out some different products so that you can see what works for you.

Another helpful tip is to take a bit of time to read up on some reviews on the particular product you are considering buying. This way you will be getting some great firsthand opinions on the product and on what past consumers had to say about it.

Tags: beauty skin care, professional skin care products

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When you’re browsing the skin care section of your local supermarket or grocery store, you’ll be amazed at how many products they offer. They have products for all different types of skin, they have anti-aging creams, they have acne skin care creams and lotions, and much, much more. So how can you possibly know which ones to buy and which ones will be a waste of your money? Proper research should be done beforehand so that you know which products will work with your type of skin, but if you stick with natural beauty skin care products, you really can’t go wrong.

All Natural

Natural beauty skin care products are made with all natural ingredients. That means there are no harmful chemicals or substances that may harm your skin. You may be thinking, “Why would a company put harmful substances in a skin care product designed to help your skin?” Well, some skin care products work well for some people and they don’t work at all, or they do more harm than good, for others. An example would be a skin care product that is designed for people with normal skin. If someone with sensitive skin uses that product, they could find themselves breaking out or forming a rash. So it’s imperative that you choose natural beauty skin care products and that you only buy the ones that are designed for your skin type.

Test It First

If you’re not sure about a particular natural beauty skin care product, make sure you test it on a small area of your skin and/or face before you apply it all over. You wouldn’t want to cover your face with a certain natural beauty skin care product only to find that it causes a bad rash. If you test it, you’ll see how it reacts with your skin and then you can decide whether or not to cover your skin with that product.

The Best Products

To find the best natural beauty skin care products, ask your friends and family members which ones they use, especially the ones with beautiful, healthy skin, or go online. You can find consumer reports online that will let you know how the various natural beauty skin care products stand up amongst the competition. When you have a good idea of which ones to buy, you’ll be armed with everything you need to make your skin the envy of everyone you come across.

Tags: natural beauty skin care (acne skin care)

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Making the switch over to organic anti aging skin care can prove to be a very important decision in your life, especially if you have already started to eat organic foods. With this form of skin care you can be assured of only using those products that are made through organic means and contain nothing but organic matter. To be sure, more and more people are opting for organic products and so these products are becoming more readily available because of the greater demand for organic foods and for organic anti aging skin care products.

Of course, organic anti aging skin care is a bit more expensive, though in the long run it will prove to be more cost efficient. Considering the many benefits that you will come to enjoy, the initial costs are really quite negligible. It will pay to look for some of the benefits that you will be enjoying were you to make the switch over to organic anti aging skin care.

Be More Committed To Organics

The first benefit that will come your way when you start to use organic anti aging skin care is that it will help promote your commitment to going organic. Another benefit is that with the help of organic anti aging skin care, you will notice almost immediately that your skin will start to look healthier and clearer and there will also be more vitality to your skin that in turn will be a true reflection of the general good health that your body is experiencing within.

By using organic anti aging skin care you will also give your skin a better chance to age in the proper manner because organic products are known to contain plenty of antioxidants (natural) that will help to provide nutrition to your skin. So the chances of your skin developing fine lines will be a lot less and also the chances of wrinkling of the skin diminish.

Also, by opting for organic anti aging skin care you will feel more confident that you are taking proper care of your skin because it will only be getting only natural substances and so will not react to harmful chemicals or other artificial substances that most non-organic anti aging skin care products contain. Furthermore, organic anti aging skin care are also not going to be tested on animals and are totally vegetarian and so contribute to a safer and cleaner environment.

Another aspect to proper skin care is using organic facial skin care, which is something that can be easily done and which also does not require incurring many expenses. It only requires spending a few minutes to complete, while the rewards include a better appearance and healthier and smoother and more revitalized face.

As far as using organic anti aging skin care goes, there are numerous benefits to be had and a wide choice of products to pick and choose from. It is also something that suits those people that are interested in living life naturally and using organic skin care will be a logical progression in the lives of such people.

Tags: organic anti aging skin care

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There are many people that become concerned about acne and who are in dire need of finding a suitable anti acne skin care method to ensure that things don’t get out of hand. Fortunately for them the medical community has been able to come up with a number of solutions that can help those suffering from all forms of skin acne recover their good health. The majority of anti acne skin care products are able to do more than simply remove acne and are also multi-purpose, so they can do a number of things including removing signs of aging.

For those who need an effective anti acne skin care product or treatment method, it is best to first of all consult a doctor because acne can be caused by a number of different skin problems. Only an expert can help establish the root cause of your acne condition and then provide a suitable treatment option.

When it concerns anti acne skin care with the help of multi-purpose solutions you will not find it hard to source one because they are easily available at local pharmacies and the Internet also abounds with possible solutions. As mentioned, there are several multi-purpose anti acne skin care products that when used can also prove effective for anti aging skin care, though before using such products you should get the nod from your dermatologist who is the only person that can vouch for the safety of these products.

Become Educated

By educating yourself about acne you will stand a far better chance with anti acne skin care than by taking shots in the dark. Essentially, there are two things to consider when it concerns anti acne skin care and these include when you have especially oily skin and when there is presence of extended pores in your skin. So, anti acne skin care for oily skin requires a different approach. Though oily skin can benefit you in that it inhibits formation of fine lines and wrinkles and prevents discoloration, it can, when found in excess, lead to acne and that is when you need to follow certain steps to treat the condition.

Anti acne skin care for oily skin requires frequent washing of the face, using products especially suited to treat oily skin and also using non-comedogenic make-up which will prevent aggravation of acne.

On the other hand, anti acne skin care for distended pores will mean changing your approach and will require using lotions and creams that help in minimizing pores and to also steam your face so as to force open blocked pores and then to also undertake cleansing of deep pores.

If you entrust your anti acne skin care to a dermatologist you can be assured of being prescribed the most suitable medications and as mentioned get multi-purpose treatment recommended that will provide simultaneous solutions to all of your acne and skin problems.

Tags: anti acne skin care

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